Coronavirus cases have been rising sharply in many Latin American countries, causing increasing concern to regional health authorities.

Brazil has more than 250,000 confirmed cases – the third highest in the world.

Other countries in the region, including Mexico, Chile and Peru, are also struggling to contain major outbreaks.

With new confirmed cases in the US plateauing and many European countries reporting declining numbers, is Latin America on course to become the new epicentre of the pandemic?

The first confirmed case in Latin America was identified in Brazil on 26 February, although researchers have said there are indications that there were cases there as early as January.

Coronavirus has since spread to every country in the region.

More than 500,000 cases have been recorded, and more than 30,000 people have died, according to the European Centre for Disease Control and Prevention.

This is far fewer cases and deaths than in Europe and the US, but testing is nowhere near as widespread and deaths may be under-reported.